New UK Partnership to Revolutionize Bereavement Support Services

MANCHESTER, England – February 04, 2026 – A landmark partnership between award-winning probate specialists Kings Court Trust and technology provider The Estate Registry is set to transform the landscape of bereavement support in the United Kingdom. The collaboration aims to directly tackle the most stressful financial and administrative challenges that families face following the death of a loved one, introducing a suite of services designed to provide immediate relief during a period of immense emotional strain.

This strategic alliance integrates The Estate Registry’s innovative digital platforms, InheritNOW and NotifyNOW, with Kings Court Trust's extensive expertise in estate administration. The partnership promises to deliver a more compassionate, efficient, and streamlined process for thousands of grieving families annually, marking a significant step forward in modernizing an industry often criticized for its complexity and bureaucratic delays.

Tackling the Twin Burdens of Bereavement

When a person passes away, their family is often confronted with two immediate and overwhelming burdens: a lack of access to funds for urgent expenses and a mountain of administrative tasks. Research from the UK Commission on Bereavement underscores this reality, finding that a staggering 61% of adults experience significant difficulties with practical or administrative duties after a death. These challenges compound the emotional toll of grief, creating a cycle of stress and anxiety.

Typically, an estate's assets, including bank accounts, are frozen until a grant of probate is issued, a process that can take months. This leaves many families struggling to cover immediate costs such as funeral expenses, which must be paid long before the estate is settled. Simultaneously, they are tasked with the repetitive and emotionally draining job of notifying countless organizations—from banks and credit card companies to utility providers and subscription services—of the death, often having to recount the painful details on every call.

This new partnership is engineered to directly alleviate these two critical pain points. By providing a mechanism for immediate financial support and a single point of contact for death notifications, the collaboration aims to give families the space and time they need to grieve without the added pressure of financial hardship and administrative chaos.

A Two-Pronged Digital Solution

The core of the partnership lies in the seamless integration of two powerful digital tools into Kings Court Trust's established probate services.

First, InheritNOW addresses the urgent liquidity crisis many families face. The service allows beneficiaries to apply for an advance on their inheritance. This is not a loan and requires no credit check on the applicant. Instead, the advance is secured against the value of the estate and is repaid directly from the estate's funds upon its final settlement. The process is designed for speed and simplicity, with the goal of providing same-day decisions and fast funding to cover essential costs. The fee structure is transparent, and The Estate Registry assumes the risk of any delays in the probate process, ensuring families are not penalized for administrative hold-ups beyond their control.

Lee Rossiter, Operations Director at Kings Court Trust, commented on the value of this service. “We know that families often struggle financially with the costs of a bereavement and partnering with InheritNOW is an obvious choice for us at KCT,” he stated, highlighting the firm’s commitment to addressing practical client needs.

Second, NotifyNOW tackles the administrative overload. This secure digital platform allows families, or Kings Court Trust on their behalf, to inform over 2,000 companies and organizations of a death in a single action. This service vastly expands on the government's 'Tell Us Once' system, which is limited to public sector bodies like HMRC and DWP. NotifyNOW’s network includes a vast array of private sector entities, including financial institutions, utility companies, mobile phone providers, and other service providers, saving families from dozens of separate, stressful interactions.

“Following a death, people have mountains of administration to complete and being able to access the bereavement notification service NotifyNOW will spare them from having to contact financial institutions, utility companies and other service providers individually,” Rossiter explained. “We’re here to eliminate and streamline that burden.”

A Strategic Alliance Forged from Shared Values

This collaboration is more than just a technological integration; it is a strategic alliance between two organizations with a shared mission. Kings Court Trust has built a formidable reputation, having assisted over 40,000 families with the complexities of estate administration. The firm is a decorated leader in its field, earning accolades such as “Probate Provider of the Year” multiple times at the British Wills and Probate Awards. Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), it is known for its transparent, fixed-fee pricing and a client-centric approach that has earned it an 'Excellent' rating from the families it serves.

The Estate Registry, meanwhile, represents the new frontier of 'compassionate tech,' focusing on creating digital solutions that simplify and automate the often-archaic processes associated with end-of-life administration. This partnership allows Kings Court Trust to leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance its high-touch, expert service, while providing The Estate Registry with a trusted, established channel to deliver its solutions to those who need them most.

Phil Hickson, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at The Estate Registry, emphasized the common goal. “Through InheritNOW and NotifyNOW we are able to help families navigate the financial and practical challenges a bereavement brings,” he said. “By working with the Kings Court Trust we are helping to build a more compassionate, streamlined network of support for the bereaved across the UK.”

The partnership positions the two companies as leaders in the UK's evolving 'inheritance economy,' where client experience and digital efficiency are becoming key differentiators. By offering a holistic service that addresses both the legal complexities and the practical hardships of bereavement, this alliance sets a new benchmark for what families can, and should, expect from probate and estate administration services.